Total eclipse, super blood wolf moon Sunday night

According to NASA, “viewers across North and South America, as well as those in western parts of Europe and Africa,” will be able to view both a super blood wolf moon and a total lunar eclipse.

Weather permitting, skywatchers in Kentucky will be able to view the sun, Earth and moon as they align to create a total lunar eclipse at approximately 11:12 p.m. CST Sunday evening.

Beginning as early as 8:36 p.m., the full moon will begin to lose its brightness, then the moon will begin to grow red in one corner and spread until the entire moon turns a reddish color as it reaches totality at approximately 10:41 p.m.

The “maximum eclipse” should be in full view at 11:12 p.m.

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The term supermoon is used to describe the full moon at perigee, or its closest point to Earth in its orbit. When the moon is at perigee it appears to be slightly larger and brighter from Earth.

As for the term Wolf Moon, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, “full moon names date back to Native Americans of North America. Tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon…names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.”

According to the Almanac, it is believed that the full moon in January was given the name Wolf Moon due to the number of hungry wolves that would howl outside villages during this colder time of year.